Dimple mark repair device and ball marker combination with golf club

ABSTRACT

A ball marker and a dimple mark repair device for repairing damage done to the turf by a golf ball are held in the handle of a golf club such as a putter. The combination includes an integrally formed cylindrical closure plug which adheredly engages within the wall of a bore in the golf club handle. The plug has a flanged collar at one end thereof and includes a central axial bore at the flanged end for receiving a central depending stem of a golf ball marker. The plug also has a pair of longitudinally oriented bores extending therethrough from the flanged end, in such a manner that the longitudinal oriented bores are spaced with respect to the central axial bore so that the central axial bore is oriented midway between the longitudinal bores, the axes thereof all lying in the same plane. The plug has a central axial recess at the end for receiving a golf ball marker or a coin therewithin. The plug has a groove at the end which extends across the diameter of the plug along a line intersecting the axes of the longitudinally oriented bores. The dimple mark repair device includes an integrally formed member having a pair of spring biased tongs which are adapted to frictionally engage within the longitudinal oriented bores. Portions are bent outwardly so as to seat in the plug groove and protrude a small distance beyond the flange collar so as to facilitate manual manipulation thereof. The member is bent around at 180* angles to form a horizontal bar parallel to the portions.

United States Patent [19 Schuler DIMPLE MARK REPAIR DEVICE AND BALLMARKER COMBINATION WITH GOLF CLUB Gerald J. Schuler, 3233 FreemansburgAve., Easton, Pa. 18042 [22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:345,448

[76] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,261,959 11/1941 Buttikofer273/162 D 2,700,547 l/l955 Kraeling 273/162 D 3,120,388 2/1964 Doble273/32 B 3,456,737 7/1969 Rhyme 273/32 B UX 1.520.113 12/1924 Bloom273/162 A 2,178,872 11/1939 Engstrom... 273/162 D 2,979,335 4/1961Pruitt 273/162 D FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 912,515 12/1962 GreatBritain 273/162 D 1,043,683 9/1966 Great Britain 273/162 D PrimaryExaminer-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard .I. ApleyAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Fred Fisher, Esq.

[4 1 Feb. 12, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT A ball marker and a dimple mark repairdevice for repairing damage done to the turf by a golf ball are held inthe handle of a golf club such as a putter. The combination includes anintegrally formed cylindrical closure plug which adheredly engageswithin the wall of a bore in the golf club handle. The plug has aflanged collar at one end thereof and includes a central axial bore atthe flanged end for receiving a central depending stem of a golf ballmarker. The plug also has a pair of longitudinally oriented boresextending therethrough from the flanged end, in such a manner that thelongitudinal oriented bores are spaced with respect to the central axialbore so that the central axial bore is oriented midway between thelongitudinal bores, the axes thereof all lying in the same plane. Theplug has a central axial recess at the end for receiving a golf ballmarker or a coin therewithin. The plug has a groove at the end whichextends across the diameter of the plug along a line intersecting theaxes of the longitudinally oriented bores. The dimple mark repair deviceincludes an integrally formed member having a pair of spring biasedtongs which are adapted to frictionally engage within the longitudinaloriented bores. Portions are bent outwardly so as to seat in the pluggroove and protrude a small distance beyond the flange collar so as tofacilitate manualmanipulation thereof. The member is bent around at 180angles to form a horizontal bar parallel to the portions.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATE NTEI] FEB I 21974 SHEET 2 0F 2 DIMPLEMARK REPAIR DEVICE AND BALL MARKER COMBINATION WITH GOLF CLUB BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates togolf clubs and, more particularly, to a golf club attachment forcarrying a golf ball marker which is removable from the attachment forthe purpose of being used to mark the identical position of a golf ballremoved from a putting green in the case of a stymie, and for carrying aturf repair device for repairing indentations or dimples caused by aheavily hit golf ball. Accordingly, the general objects of thisinvention are to provide new and improved combinations of suchcharacter.

One of the rules of the games of golf requires that a following playerwho has a ball positioned on the green in a direct line of travel of theball to the cup of a first player, pick up his ball and mark the spot onwhich the ball lies with a small marker and hold the ball until thefirst player has taken a shot to attempt to put the outer ball in thecup. Thereafter, the following player will replace the ball and take ashot to put the replaced ball in the cup. Since the spot marker is usedon the green, an ideal location for the carrying of a spot marker wouldbe in the handle of a putter. Such markers can take various forms andinclude devices shaped as a coin, which may be cylindrical devicesformed of plastic or metal, and further can take the shape of devicessimilarly formed but further having a central depending stem so that thestemmed marker can be inserted into the ground, somewhat in the mannerof a tee, to give more precise positioning of the marker and avoiddisturbance thereof in the event a golf ball rolls thereover.

Putting greens on golf courses are not intended to contain naturalhazards found on fairways such as rocks, depressions and the like, andno artificial hazards are created on the putting green itself such aswater traps or sand. Putting greens normally contain three variants: (1the type and length of the grass used on the putting green, (2) theweather or moisture conditions of the putting green, such as rain, dew,and other moisture factors, and (3) the design, hills, or roll of theputting green. lndentations in the putting green caused by a heavily hitgolf ball are encouraged to be repaired so that a ball can be hit fromits lie to the cup without such indentations providing an additionaldeterrent. Ideally, it is desirable to incorporate a dimple mark repairdevice to be conveniently carried within the handle ofa putter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In accordance with novelty searchesperformed on behalf of the applicant, the following United StatesPatents of interest were found:

lnventor Number lssue Date Bloom 1,520,113 December 23, 1924 Stanton1,709,546 April 16, 1929 Werner 2,083,175 June 8, 1937 Engstrom2,178,872 November 7, 1939 Ross 2,551,294 May 1, 1951 Kraeling, Jr.2,700,547 January 25, 1955 Pruitt 2,979,335 April 11, 1961 Klynman3,185,483 May 25, 1965 Garrett 3,242,582 March 29, 1966 Rhyme 3,456,737July 22, 1969 Huston ct a1. 3,252,489 May 24, 1966 Gudmundsen 3,698,720October 17, 1972 2 Bloom, US. Pat. No. 1,520,113, issued Dec. 23,

' 1924, discloses a golf club with a recess or pocket in the handleportion thereof for carrying articles such as a pencil, score card, orthe like. The pencil and score card are stored in a longitudinal bore(of any desired length) in the handle of the golf club. A tubular liningfrictionally engages with the bore. A threaded tubular plug, having anintegral knob frictionally engages with the lining when a threadedpencil is mated with the plug. Bloom states that other articles can beretained in the recess or pocket of the handle. Bloom does not disclosehow articles, having dimensional configurations which cannot fit intohis recess, can be carried by his club.

Stanton, US. Pat. No. 1,709,546, issued Apr. 16, 1929, discloses a teeholder for golf club shafts, Stantons holder includes an upper head orknob-like member adapted to be fitted on the upper end of a golf clubshaft, a resilient pad secured to the upper extremity of the shaft, andaligning converging passages extending from countersunk seats in the topof the head through the pad and into the upper end of the shaft. Theholes in the head and shaft are wider than the stem of a tee, while theholes in the resilient pad are slightly smaller, so that a frictionalgrip is provided for retaining the tees in position. Countersunkrecesses, forming seats for the head of the tees, are provided in theupper head, the recesses being laterally notched to form a thumb spacefor gripping the head of a tee during its removal. Stanton makes noprovision, whatsoever, for attaching or housing auxilliary articles suchas a dimple mark repair device or a golf ball marker.

Werner, US. Pat. No. 2,083,175, issued June 8, 1937, discloses animplement carried as a part of a golf club for conveniently forming ormolding a recess in the earth for the ready reception of the ordinarydriving tee. The handle end of a golf club shaft has rigidly attachedthereto, as by an integrally formed threaded shank, a circular diskhaving formed integrally therewith and protruding outwardly therefrom atapering instrument. A threaded shield is provided. Other than the factthat an implement is associated with the handle of a golf club, thispatent fails to suggest any of the novel features of applicantsinvention.

Engstrom, US. Pat. No. 2,178,872, issued Nov. 7, 1939, discloses a golfclub attachment for carrying a marker which is removable from theattachment for the purpose of being used to mark the identical positionof a golf ball removed from a putting green in the case of stymie. Theattachment includes a cap-shaped housing having an axial passage toengage over the upper end of a golf club handle. The upper end of thehousing is countersunk, to receive a coin or marker, one side of theupper end being cut away to form an outlet opening to permit a personsthumb to be drawn radially outwardly when the marker is to be extracted.In the two embodiments described, a steel coin or marker (apparently adisk) is held in place in the attachment by either (1) a spring or (2) amagnet. Engstrom does not suggest how a plastic marker could beretained, nor how a disk-like marker having a central depending sterncould be retained.

Ross, US. Pat. No. 2,551,294, issued May .1, 1951, discloses springbiased tongs (actually a portion of an antenna) stored in a shaft.

' Kraeling, Jr., US. Pat. No. 2,700,547, issued Jan. 25, 1955, disclosesa holder for flexible flat discs, which holder can be mounted in thehandle of a golf club. The holder includes a generally cylindricalcolumnar body having three flutes symmetrically arranged and extendinglongitudinally of the body. The flutes are concave. A cylindrical sleevehaving cut-out portions forming flanges grip bent and flexed discswithin the flutes. Kraeling, Jr. makes no provision for either rigiddiscs, nor discs having a central depending stem.

Pruitt, U.S. Pat. No. 2,979,335, issued Apr. 11, 1961, discloses acombination golf club and magnetically held marker. No teaching issuggested by Pruitt for retaining a non-magnetic marker.

Klynman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,185,483, issued May 25, 1965, discloses agolfers turf-repairing implement which is carried within a slot formedin the rear face of a putter head. Such an implement is carried by aspecially formed putter head (or, more specifically, by a speciallyformed rear face thereof).

Garrett, U.S. Pat. No. 3,242,582, issued Mar. 29, 1966, discloses a golfputter with a telescoping indicating level housed in the handle of theputter. In its retracted position, the indicating device is frictionallyheld by the handle.

Rhyme, U.S. Pat. No. 3,456,737, issued July 22, 1969 discloses a turfrepair implement including a blade, and a handle which may be adaptedfor insertion into a hollow handle end of a golf club. The implement canbe secured to the hollow handle by means ofa resilient spring clip whichmates with a recess formed in the implement handle. A ball marker can becarried in a cap for the club handle, a resilient shoulder formed on thecap retaining the marker thereon when not in use. A slot is cut into theshoulder to permit easy insertion and removal of the marker. Rhyme,however, fails to suggest the novel combination as taught by theapplicant hereof.

Huston, et. al, US. Pat. No. 3,252,489, issued May 24, 1966, discloses acombination axe and knife sheath, and is listed to show the storage ofthe knife blade in a slot or hole with the handle of the knifecompletely within the handle of the axe.

Gudmundsen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,720, issued Oct. 17, I972, discloses agolf club with spring biased tines stored in an insert in the shaft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide anovel combination for attachment with a golf club putter for housing aturf repair implement and a golf ball marker.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel combinationincluding a golf club putter, a dimple mark repair device. and a golfball marker.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, wherein a golf clubhas a bore extending from the handle thereof. an integrally formed,generally cylindrical closure plug is adapted to adheredly engage withinthe wall of the handle bore. The plug has a flanged collar at one endthereof of fixed diameter, and has a central axial bore at the flangedend for receiving a central depending stern of a golf ball marker. Theplug has a pair of longitudinally oriented bores extending therethroughfrom the flanged end. The longitudinally oriented bores are spaced withrespect to the central axial bore so that the central bore is orientedmidway between the longitudinal bores, the axes thereof all lying in thesame plane. The plug has a central depending recess at the one end forreceiving a golf ball marker or coin therewithin. The plug has a grooveat one end extending across the diameter of the plug along a lineintersecting the axes of the longitudinally oriented bores. The dimplerepair device includes an integrally formed member having a pair ofspring biased tongs adapted to fit within the longitudinally oriented.bores. Portions of the repair device are bent outwardly so as to seatin the plug groove and protrude a small distance beyond the flangedcollar to facilitate manual manipulation thereof. The member is bentoutwardly away from the tongs at 180 angles to form a horizontal barparallel to the portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, advantages, andfeatures of this invention will be more apparent from the followingdescription, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club, such as a putter, includingthe handle thereof and other compo nents of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the elements of this in.- vention,including the golf club handle partly broken away, further including acylindrical plug, a turf repair implement and a marker, in a preferredembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cylindrical plug illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there isshown a golf club 10 such as a putter, including the usual putter head 11 and a handle portion 12. The handle portion 12, as best shown at FIG.2, includes an axial bore 13 which extends through from the end of thehandle thereof.

A generally cylindrical plug 14, preferrably constructed of plastic, isgenerally of the same diameter as that of the bore 13 of the handle 12so that the cylindrical plug 14 can adheredly fit within the bore 13 ofthe handle 12, preferably by adhesive. The cylindrical plug 14 has anannular flange or collar 16 which abuts against the end of the handle12, as best shown in FIG. 6.

The plug 14 has a circular indentation l7 centrally disposed at theflanged collar end thereof. The plug 14 is also provided with a pair oflongitudinally oriented bores 18, 19 disposed therethrough, each of thebores l8, 19 being oriented a fixed distance r, from the central axis 21of the plug 14. The bores 18, 19 and the central axis 21 all lie in thesame common plane, as best shown in FIG. 3.

The plug 14 can be provided with a central axial bore 22 as indicated inFIG. 3.

The plug 24 is further provided with a groove 23 which extends acrossthe collar 16 and extends along a line including the axes of the bores18, 19, and 22.

A marker 24, which is circular in shape, has a radius and configurationsuch as to fit within the circular indentation 17 of the collar 16 ofthe plug 14. The marker 24 can be provided with a centrally disposeddepending stem 26. The depending stem 26 of the marker 24 is adapted tofit within the bore 22 of the plug 14.

A dimple mark repair device 27, which in a sense is a turf repairimplement, is shown in perspective in FIG. 5 and is shown as part of theexploded view of FIG. 2.

The dimple mark repair device 27, as shown in FIG. 5, includes a pair oftongs 28, 29 and, at the end of the tongs, includes portions 31, 32which extend outwardly away for a distance which exceeds the diameter ofthe collar 16. The dimple mark repair device 27 further includesportions 33, 34 coupled to the portions 31, 32 which are bent outwardlyaway from and are bent to a common horizontal bar 36 as shown in FIG. 5.The horizontal bar 36, preferably, is flattened and the entire dimplemark repair device is formed in an integral manner from any suitablematerial such as plastic or metal.

The dimple mark repair device 27 can be inserted into the cylindricalplug 14 by inserting the tongs 28, 29, respectively, into thelongitudinally disposed bores 18, 19, whereby the tongs 28 and 29frictionally engage within the walls of the bores 18, 19 to be held inplace thereby.

Hence, as best shown in the exploded view of FIG. 2, in a storedcondition, the plug 14 is inserted within the bore 13 of the handle 12of the golf club 10. The

marker 24 is inserted into the indentation 17 with the centrallydisposed depending stem 26 residing within the central bore 22 of thecollar 16. The turf repair device 27 is kept in place by inserting thetongs 28, 29 within the longitudinally oriented bores 18, 19 of the plug14 whereby the tongs 28, 29 frictionally engage within the bores 18 and19. The portions 31, 32 of the device 27 reside within the groove 23 ofthe collar 16. The bar 26 retains the marker 24 within the collar 16, asbest shown in FIG. 6.

Various types of markers can be housed within the cylindrical plug 14and need not include the type of marker 24 as depicted in the drawingincluding the central depending stem 26. The marker may include any kindof commercial marker, including flexible types and rigid types includingflat circular coins and including those as depicted including a circulardepending stem 26. Markers including a circular depending stem arepreferred because the stem 26 can be inserted into the turf to retainthe marker in place in the event that a golf ball rolls thereover.

In operation, a golfer, having hit his golf ball onto the putting greencarries his putter onto the green, he then observes the turf and maynotice a dimple mark of the turf caused by a heavily hit golf ball. Thegolfer then removes the dimple mark repair device 27 from the handle 12of the golf club 10. The dimple mark repair device 27 is simply removedby grasping the portions33, 34 manually from the handle 12 and pullingoutwardly therefrom to remove the device 27. This procedure iseasilyperformed since the portions 33, 34 of the device 27 extend beyondthe diameter of the flanged collar 16 (as shown in FIG. 6 and as alsoshown in FIG. 1). In its removal, the marker 24 also becomes readilyavailable. The dimple mark repair device 27 can be used in variousmanners to repair the dimple mark caused by a heavily hit golf ball. Thegolfer may hold the tongs 28, 29 in the manner of a handle and apply thehorizontal bar 36 across the depression caused by the golf ball toattempt to return the depressed turf to its normal position. In someinstances, it may be desirable to grasp the device 27 by the bar 36 anduse the tongs 28, 29 in a digging manner, or in the manner of a pair offorceps, to cause the turf to raise upwardly to its natural or neutralcondition. Various portions of the device 27 can be used, due to itsintricate shape, to return the turf to its normal condition.

In the event of a stymie, the marker 24 can be used, as is well known inthe art, to replace a golf ball so that a subsequent player can proceedto hit his golf ball toward the cup. Following this procedure, the golfmarker 24 can be placed back into the indentation 17 of the collar 16,and the device 27 reinserted into the plug 14, and the club 14 then canbe used for subsequent play. The club 14 can be used, in operation, instriking a golf ball with or without the device 27 or the marker 24housed within the plug 14, since the balance or weight of the handle 12is unaffected by the presence or absence of the marker or turf repairimplement 27.

The combination, as described bythis invention, is highly advantageousin that everything is convenient for the golfing player in that themarker and turf repair implement are housed within the handle of thegolf club putter itself. Thus, the golfer need carry only one implementto the green itself, namely, the golf club which includes the marker anddimple mark repair device combination. When he is on the green, he mayproceed in a normal fashion in attempting to hit his golf ball into thecup, he may or may not have the necessity of using the marker or theimplement. Hence, the marker or the implement need not be carried in atrouser pocket, which would otherwise tend to create holes in thepocket, etc. However, in the event that a dimple mark repair device, ora marker, is necessary, it is desirable that such be convenient to theplayer. The player does not have the problem of losing his marker or hisimplement, as was heretofore the problem, since everything is housedwithin the golf club handle itself.

Advantageously, this invention is applicable to a wide range of golfclubs, since a large number of golf clubs are already provided withaxial bores in the handles. Essentially no problem exists in placing theplug and the marker and implement in the handle itself since the weightdistribution of the golf club is essentially unaffected. Hence, thegolfer is not subject to the problem of modifying a golf club to such anextent that the weight or feel of the golf club is adversely affected,which would thus affect the stroke of play.

Various modifications may suggest itself to those ordinarily skilled inthe 'art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.As indicated above, various types of markers can be used both with andwithout a stem. Also various types of dimple mark repair devices can beused including those with circular tongs and tongs with rectangularcross sections. Other modifications suggest themselves to those skilledin the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a golf club having a bore extending from thehandle end thereof;

a. an integral, generally cyindrical closure plug adapted to adheredlyengage within the wall of said bore,

said plug having 1. a flanged collar at one end thereof of fixeddiameter,

2. a central axial bore at said flanged end for receiving a centraldepending stem of a golf ball marker,

3. a pair of longitudinally oriented bores extending therethrough fromsaid flanged end,

said longitudinally oriented bores being spaced with respect to saidcentral axial bore so that said central bore is oriented midway betweensaid longitudinal bores, the axes thereof all lying in the same plane,

4. a central depending recess at said one end for receiving a golf ballmarker or coin therewithin, and

5. a groove at said one end extending across the diameter of said plugalong a line intersecting the axes of said longitudinally orientedbores; and

b. a dimple mark repair device comprising an integral formed memberhaving a pair of spring biased tongs adapted to fit within saidlongitudinally oriented bores, portions bent outwardly from said tongsso as to seat in said plug groove and protruding a small distance beyondsaid flanged collar to facilitate manual manipulation thereof, and bentaround at angles to form a horizontal bar parallel to said portions.

2. The combination with a golf club handle, said handle having an opentop recess in the upper end thereof; a plug disposed in said recesshaving a pair of longitudinally disposed bores therethrough, each boredisposed a distance r from the central axis of said plug, the bores andsaid central axis all lying in a common plane, said plug having acircular depression of radius r centrally at the top thereof; a golfball marker of radius r adapted to fit into said depression; and adimple repair device having a pair of tongs adapted to frictionallyengage within said bores and to retain said marker in said depression;and wherein r r r

1. In combination with a golf club having a bore extending from thehandle end thereof; a. an integral, generally cyindrical closure plugadapted to adheredly engage within the wall of said bore, said plughaving
 1. a flanged collar at one end thereof of fixed diameter,
 2. acentral axial bore at said flanged end for receiving a central dependingstem of a golf ball marker,
 3. a pair of longitudinally oriented boresextending therethrough from said flanged end, said longitudinallyoriented bores being spaced with respect to said central axial bore sothat said central bore is oriented midway between said longitudinalbores, the axes thereof all lying in the same plane,
 4. a centraldepending recess at said one end for receiving a golf ball marker orcoin therewithin, and
 5. a groove at said one end extending across thediameter of said plug along a line intersecting the axes of saidlongitudinally oriented bores; and b. a dimple mark repair devicecomprising an integral formed member having a pair of spring biasedtongs adapted to fit within said longitudinally oriented bores, portionsbent outwardly from said tongs so as to seat in said plug groove andprotruding a small distance beyond said flanged collar to facilitatemanual manipulation thereof, and bent aroUnd at 180* angles to form ahorizontal bar parallel to said portions.
 2. a central axial bore atsaid flanged end for receiving a central depending stem of a golf ballmarker,
 2. The combination with a golf club handle, said handle havingan open top recess in the upper end thereof; a plug disposed in saidrecess having a pair of longitudinally disposed bores therethrough, eachbore disposed a distance r1 from the central axis of said plug, thebores and said central axis all lying in a common plane, said plughaving a circular depression of radius r2 centrally at the top thereof;a golf ball marker of radius r3 adapted to fit into said depression; anda dimple repair device having a pair of tongs adapted to frictionallyengage within said bores and to retain said marker in said depression;and wherein r1<r3<r2.
 3. a pair of longitudinally oriented boresextending therethrough from said flanged end, said longitudinallyoriented bores being spaced with respect to said central axial bore sothat said central bore is oriented midway between said longitudinalbores, the axes thereof all lying in the same plane,
 4. a centraldepending recess at said one end for receiving a golf ball marker orcoin therewithin, and
 5. a groove at said one end extending across thediameter of said plug along a line intersecting the axes of saidlongitudinally oriented bores; and b. a dimple mark repair devicecomprising an integral formed member having a pair of spring biasedtongs adapted to fit within said longitudinally oriented bores, portionsbent outwardly from said tongs so as to seat in said plug groove andprotruding a small distance beyond said flanged collar to facilitatemanual manipulation thereof, and bent aroUnd at 180* angles to form ahorizontal bar parallel to said portions.